Gt 285

[randy merritt]

I thought I would post some pictures and thoughts here if for no other reason, to be able to look back in the future.

Facebook Ad that started it:
It had three flat tires from the baby momma, and did not run. Center console was broken. Key switch was missing and had a piece of pipe stuck in it. No battery (owner sold that because he needed money). It took him 15 minutes to get all the trash and junk out of the back of the truck before I loaded it up. Someone had done a real valiant effort at rattle canning the truck flat black. They even got into the jams (damnit). The reason I bought it was because it was a solid rust free truck with a clean florida title. It is a real GT and worth saving.

 

[RealFastV6]

I was wondering what it was you were saving.

How'd you realize it was a GT?

 

[randy merritt]

The seats shown in the pic. Plus someone posted it on our facebook page.

 

[randy merritt]

I got the motor running with a new spider injector and new fuel tank/pump.

 

[randy merritt]

And cleaned up the interior as best I could. Plans for now are to swap in a sy/ty motor and drive it around.

 

[randy merritt]

I swapped out the bed with one I had in the back yard from Rob's S10 parts truck. Less sanding to deal with and the original bed had a hole cut to access the fuel pump.



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[randy merritt]

Right now, I am working on paint and body work. Just for something to do.

 

[randy merritt]

Door panels cleaned up and painted

 

[randy merritt]

Did some body work yesterday. I think I will just replace the driver's door like I did the passenger. I would rather have a door with no body work in it.

 

[randy merritt]

I welded up the holes drilled in the bed. This is where cargo tie downs were installed.

 

[keith455]

I'm happy to see this truck getting fixed up and not being parted out. Good job on saving this one.

 

[neildemo]

Right Keith you need to get on that Teal !

 

[randy merritt]

I went ahead and cut the new core support and fitted the front mount ATA. Just waiting on the Sy motor to arrive so I can break it down and sent it to the machine shop. I will also be rebuilding the trans and getting a new TC.

 

[randy merritt]

Since I have a motor on its way from Aaron, and cladding on its way from Ken, I decided to start the tear down yesterday. I removed the bed (I will have to upgrade the fuel pump for the Sy motor). I started pulling the trans, and hope to have it out today. BTW, it was only $250 to ship the motor cross country using Fastenall.
I will paint the firewall after the motor has been removed. The old core support is beat up and will go to the junk pile.
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I also scored a pretty nice driver door from the local junk yard ($40) on Friday. It is pretty flat and rust free (slight surface rust on the pillar). It is a manual window door, so I will have to drill the hole for the power harness, but I had to do this to the other door, and it is pretty easy. There is a dimple in the door that tells you where to center the hole saw. I think it is 1-1/2" hole.

Rob did a little blocking on the door Friday night, and I will have to fill a few low spots. No big deal, I love blocking.

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[randy merritt]

Goals for the day accomplished by noon, and installed vac purge valve on Denym's truck in the middle.


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Trans out.

Note to self: remove TV cable with trans. Jack trans up little, then remove cross member. Dropping the trans down a little without the cross member makes the trans to motor bolts very easy to get to. Remove cooler lines from rad so trans can be dropped down to make it easy to get to them on the trans. Re install should be the same. Probably easier to install trans before motor, as the trans dipstick is a real bitch to get on properly with the motor in. Remember what a hard time you had with the last trans install on a syclone trying to align the dipstick bracket with the belhousing bolts.

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[Sean Krupa]

Great job. Keep up the good work.

 

[randy merritt]

More progress. I went ahead and pulled the motor last sunday after my usual trip to smith creek. Lori was riding the mule, so I got bored.



The transmission is out and at Dale's shop for a rebuild. I will also get him to get me a TC. Had to order the input drum reinforcement kit from Pro Built.

New motor from Aaron arrived yesterday and I picked it up from Fastenall in Tallahassee. Everything looks good, and I am ready to start tearing it down.



I removed the main wiring harness, and will begin cutting it down for use with the Holley HP. Next is to paint the cowl.

More to come.

 

[randy merritt]

Dear diary,

Here is the latest progress.

Yesterday, I pulled the motor outside of the shop and used liberal Super Clean to clean it up so it wouldn't be so nasty to work on.

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Last night, Rob came by and after some beer induced motivation, he convinced me to let him remove the A/C suitcase instead of taping it off. It was much easier to remove it than tape it off. I worked on removing the spray paint from the firewall while Rob sanded on one of the front fender to remove the spray paint from it. Here is Rob basking in his glory. Notice he is holding the permit required Natural Light.

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This morning, I got motivated to go ahead and paint the firewall. Natural light 12 pack boxes make excellent paint shields.

Before:

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After:

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[wildphil]

It's coming along nicely. At the rate you are going. You will have the truck on the road very soon.

 

[randy merritt]

It was cold last night, so I spent some time in the shop and took the a/c box apart and cleaned and painted it. There were so many leaves in it, it's amazing that it blew much air at all.